While all signs pointed to Kevin Hayes becoming a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s match at the Garden against the Bruins, coach Alain Vigneault ultimately decided otherwise.

Hence, the sophomore remained in the lineup for the 5-2 victory while Oscar Lindberg unaccountably sat out his fifth straight game. Notably ineffective the previous four games while skating on Eric Staal’s right wing (with J.T. Miller on the left), Hayes remained on Staal’s right, but with Chris Kreider at left wing.

A natural center who played the middle through essentially all of last year’s successful rookie season (notably with the speedy Carl Hagelin a staple on his left flank), the 23-year-old has been on the wing in 11 of the 12 games since Staal’s acquisition on Feb. 28.

Hayes, who had been scratched from a pair of games straddling New Year’s because of a concern over his work ethic, had played center in 50 of his first 60 games and all but two of the 39 matches at his preferred position immediately preceding Staal’s arrival.

“I know he’s a little more comfortable in the middle, but at this time he’s on the wing,” said Vigneault. “He’s a little less comfortable, but I do think he needs to be a bit more assertive on the ice.”

“He can be more assertive, protect the puck better and use a bit more speed in certain situations.”

Hayes has recorded 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) after notching 45 points (17-28) a year ago. But it’s not the drop in production that’s been most glaring in regards to the Boston College product. It’s been Hayes’ seemingly casual manner in defending, most specifically in getting back after a turnover.

“We need him to be defensively responsible,” Vigneault said. “[He’s] a young man that’s got some offensive skills, but you’ve got to play at both ends of the rink and have to be dependable at both ends of the rink.”

Hayes finished with 11:47 of ice after getting just 2:59 in a second period during which he got one shift the final 11:33. That will be about the norm for Hayes, who does not play on either specialty team.

Vigneault said Lindberg’s omission from the lineup had been more a function of line construction than a commentary on the Swedish rookie’s play.

“I thought Oscar was playing well,” Vigneault said. “But when Rick Nash came back, we had 13 healthy forwards. It’s just the way it slotted out.”

For five straight games?

Lee Stempniak scored three goals against the Rangers in four games as a Devil before going to Boston at the trade deadline. The winger, who wore the Blueshirt last year before he was traded at the 2015 deadline to Winnipeg, put three more pucks in the net Wednesday. Only one counted, however, with one nullified because of a coach’s challenge offside reversal and another judged not to have crossed the line after an inconclusive video review.

“I don’t know what’s up with Lee; if we did something bad to him when he was here,” Henrik Lundqvist said jokingly. “He’s just out of control against us. I can’t believe it. I feel like we treated him really nice when he was here. You have to give him credit. He’s been extremely good against us.”